Tag Archives: Momma Love

Nearly two years ago, I posted this, about discovering Ali Smith, being smitten, and my quest to get my hands on her seemingly elusive book. The mystery was solved when she responded directly to me, letting me know that I couldn’t find it because it hadn’t yet been published. She was close, very close, to finding a publisher. Her photographs were so stunning, felt so important, that I just assumed the publication was in progress, the details of which can be drawn-out over years, and I’ve been here, twiddling my thumbs, waiting.

Turns out her publisher folded, along with the funds she had put towards the book. Today I made my first foray onto Kickstarter to contribute to get this book, (now twelve years in the making), published at last. I knew about Kickstarter, mostly via swissmiss, and found it both mystifying and heartening that people were helping other people get projects off the ground, strangers, simply because they believed in the work or product. It is, in reality, not an investment, but a gift. The “return” on your “investment”, in this case, is that something you believe in, that has meaning to you, will exist in the world. There was an interesting article about this in the New York Times (click here to read).

I am so not into trying to separate people and their money. You will never find me on any fund-raising committees. Can’t do it. So consider this a Public Service Announcement. Her Kickstarter campaign ends tonight.

Don’t you just love how the internet makes it possible for us to reach out to pretty much anyone in the world, even if we don’t know them? Yesterday I contacted Ali Smith through her website in an attempt to go straight to the source to solve the mystery of where to buy her book, Momma Love. And don’t you know I heard back from her today, just like that. It’s magic, really. A source of great time-wasting sometimes, this internet (Facebook, I’m talking to you). But also an amazing tool for connecting people.

Ali’s response:

“I appreciate your post so much and am thrilled you responded to the work! It’s been getting really strong responses from so many. Makes me feel very good about the project. Like it’s really needed. The book project is currently with my agent and I’m hoping it will find its proper home soon. I will definitely keep you informed about the progress and when there’s purchasing info, I’d be grateful if you could share it with your crowd”.

Being able to connect with someone whose creative work I really admire via the invisible but all-knowing web is really an amazing thing. Today it’s making me feel like the world is wide open, all out there for us decide what we would like to select from the buffet.

Do you have any experiences to share about connecting with your tribe or like-minded individuals or sources of creative inspiration? I’d love to hear about it in comments section.

the fine print

I always like to give credit where credit's due. If you see something that I have not linked or given credit to, and you know where it came from, please let me know so I can attribute the image to the right person. If I have used an image that belongs to you, and you would prefer that I not, please contact me and I will take it down.